Let it Flow

I recently finished reading Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Just before the holidays I saw Elizabeth Gilbert on Oprah and immediately took a drive to buy the book.

Elizabeth was very candid in her writing and I found myself wanting to be on this journey with her in Italy, India and Indonesia. She painted an amazing picture of each location, all three of which have been on my travel list for a while. Italy I’ve experienced twice, and she’s absolutely right - there is such a pleasure there in the food, the history and the people. With each turn of the page, I found I had a new found passion for my own adventure and I was excited about it.

There were three lessons that were reinforced for me after reading this book. Things I know, but needed to have a reminder about including:

• It’s ok to suffer. Some things in life are definitely painful and a grievance period is needed. It’s important to remember, though, that there is a brighter side. It may take a while to get there, but I have the power within in me to find it. It’s my choice.
• I, too, can have a spiritual journey to find a connection to God or other higher being. I had been feeling something like this before reading the book - felt I needed “something more” and I couldn’t put my finger on it. About mid-way through the book I realized I, too, am on my spiritual journey (though I’m still not sure exactly what I’m looking for). My journey won’t take me to such exotic locations over the next year, but I’m excited to journey locally nonetheless.
• I am not alone. All beings suffer as a result of death, divorce, war, career, financial concerns. There is an infinite number of reasons why we suffer. Whatever it is that I’m suffering from, there is probably someone else suffering from it as well. Elizabeth found support from her language buddy in Italy, her friend Richard at the Ashram in India, Filippe and Wayan in Indonesia (among other people, I’m sure). I know I don’t need to find support in such far off lands so I work on finding it from the people I already know.

I really enjoyed this book. I had mixed feelings after seeing the Oprah episode. I didn’t know why I wanted to read about this woman’s journey and at the same time I was intrigued wanted to know why it was transforming so many women’s lives. That’s part of what go me to the bookstore so quickly. The story offers inspiration to remember that suffering may last a while and that’s ok. It is nice to know that if we can manage through the pain there really is a brighter side.

Learn more about the book.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

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